How To Make Cheese Sauce For Pretzels

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Why Is This Recipe In Grams

Homemade Soft Pretzels & Beer Cheese Sauce – What’s For Din – Courtney Budzyn – Recipe 41

I post my recipes in grams as it is the most accurate way to bake. Cups are not only inaccurate but they vary in volume worldwide. There is no way for me to provide one cup measure that works for everyone. However, posting in weight fixes this issue. If you would like the recipe in cups you are welcome to convert it yourself via google, but please do not ask me to do it for you as I am not comfortable providing a recipe using a method that I have not tested. Baking with a scale is easy, accurate, and also makes cleanup super simple. Here is the scale that I use if you would like a recommendation! Here’s to accurate baking!

Make The Pretzel Dough

In a large bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast, whisking to dissolve the yeast. Let rest for 5-10 minutes for the yeast to activate and bloom.

Add in the flour, salt, and butter, mixing thoroughly until a dough forms.

Knead on low speed with an electric mixer until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the bowl or knead by hand for about 5-10 minutes to get the same results.

Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover the top with plastic wrap. Allow rising in a warm place until doubled .

While the dough is proofing, prepare the cheese sauce.

Grocery List For Beer Cheese Dip

  • Cheddar Cheese shred your own instead of buying shredded cheese for faster melting, and avoiding the anti clumping issues with pre-shredded cheese. You can use sharp cheddar cheese or mild cheddar.
  • Flour all purpose flour works well
  • Butter- salted or unsalted works fine
  • Beer Lager, Stout, Ale, IPA basically your favorite beer
  • Cayenne Pepper- optional if you dont like spicy, omit it
  • Pepper
  • Mustard- dijon mustard, regular mustard or a grainy mustard will work
  • Melt Butter

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How To Make Easy Beer Cheese Dip

You can make this beer cheese dip recipe many ways, over a campfire or fire pit, on the grill for a cookout, on the stovetop or in the oven even! So many options so little time!

If using a campfire or fire pit, place a grate over the fire. In a 10 or 12 cast-iron skillet , add cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, garlic, chives and beer be sure to season with a little cayenne and salt.

  • Add shredded cheese
  • then cream cheese
  • and garlic to skillet

I loved making this easy beer cheese dip on our fire pit actually, I just borrowed a grate from our grill and it worked like a charm! The image below is right before I placed the foil on top.

Cover with foil or with a heat safe lid if you have one, take a peek every now and then stirring to combine.

The picture on the right is making this same pretzel cheese dip on our grill, with burners at about medium, which was about 400 degrees.

  • Cover skillet with foil
  • Stir occasionally until smooth

Once all the cheeses are melted, stir or whisk well to combine until smooth, a few little lumps are just fine. Garnish with extra chives if desired.

If you want the top to have a little browned cheese, place 5-6 inches below broiler for 1 -2 minutes, watching closely! It will brown quickly.

How To Make Pretzel Bites With Mustard Cheese Sauce

soft pretzels

Made from store-bought pizza dough, these chewy pretzel bites are baked to perfection for toasty snacks that go best with rich mustard sauce.

15 minutes

  • 1½tbsphoney mustard,such as Frenchs
  • 2cupscheddar cheese,shredded
  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

  • Roll the pizza dough into balls slightly smaller than the size of a golf ball.

  • Bring a pot of water to a simmer, then stir in the baking soda. Add the dough balls and cook for 30 seconds.

  • Remove from the water and place them on a parchment-lined sheet tray.

  • Brush each dough ball with egg wash and sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt.

  • Place the tray in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until pretzels turn a deep brown color.

  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the milk while whisking. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the milk begins to thicken slightly.

  • Add in the Frenchs Honey Mustard, cheese, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk until cheese melts and the sauce is smooth. Let the cheese sauce bubble for a few more minutes to thicken up slightly.

  • Serve immediately with the pretzel bites and enjoy.

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    Best Homemade Cheese Sauce

    This is the best cheese sauce recipe ever. It only takes 5 minutes and 6 ingredients to make the most delicious, creamy cheese sauce for fries, soft pretzels, broccoli, etc.

    During three of my six pregnancies, my most-craved food combination was cheese fries and kale salad ! So, I created this recipe for the bestcheese sauce ever! You’ll never buy the canned sauce again once you try this homemade recipe!

    This cheese sauce is creamy, cheesy and easy to make in 5 minutes with only 6 ingredients.

    Its the most delicious cheese sauce for fries, soft pretzels , broccoli, etc. and perfect to whip up whenever the craving strikes without having to go to a restaurant.

    Reheating Cheese Dip For Pretzels

    I prefer reheating cheese dip on the stove. If frozen, thaw it overnight in the fridge before pouring it into a saucepan.

    Cook over low heat, stirring often, until the desired temperature. If its too thick, add milk or beer.You can also reheat it in the microwave. Set your power to 50 or 60% and cook in 30-second intervals until hot. Stir between each interval, and add liquid as needed.

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    Pretzel Bites With Beer Cheese Sauce

    Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese Sauce

    Homemade pretzel bites are the perfect dippers for this tangy, rich beer cheese sauce. These homemade pretzel bites with beer cheese sauce are always a hit. And they are even better when served with an irresistible, bold beer cheese sauce. Finish it off with salt to bring out the flavors and you have a delightful sauce for dipping those pretzel bites into.

    A rich beer like a stout will result in a richer beer cheese sauce. .

    Pretzel Bites With Cheese Dip // 3 Ways + Video

    How to Make Pretzels Bites and Beer Cheese Sauce!

    Pretzel Bites with Cheese Dip // 3 Ways + VIDEO

    Cheese Dip. Also Lets not forget the glorious pretzel cheese dip. If you loved this Pretzel Bites recipe I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Pretzel Bites RecipePretzel Bites with Cheese Dip Pretzel Bites with Cheese Dip are the perfect snack for tailgating. 3.95 from 75 votes Print Pin Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes Servings: 8 servings Created by Platings and Pairings 1x 2x 3x Ingredients Pretzel Bites 1 1/2 cups water 2 1/4 teaspoons instant rise yeast )2 Tablespoons butter 1 Tablespoon brown sugar1 teaspoon salt4 cups flour1/2 cup baking soda1 egg Coarse salt Cheese Dip 2 1/4 cups whole milk1/4 cup unsalted butter1/4 cup flour2 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese salt + pepper to taste Nacho Cheese Dip Cheese Dip 1 jalapeno 2 Tablespoons hot sauce1 teaspooon cayenne Mustard Cheese Dip Cheese Dip 1 Tablespoon mustard Horseradish Cheese Dip Cheese Dip 2 Tablespoons horseradish Instructions Pretzel Bites Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water. .

    Read Also: Do Cheese Sticks Need To Be Refrigerated

    Let Me Tell You About Sam And The Culinary Compass

    Sam is a lifelong food lover, but dreamed of being an engineerbut her dreams were dashed when she realized she wasnt into physics. Halfway through college, she realized she wanted to work with food in some capacity, so she decided to minor in Food Science and Technology along with her degree in Industrial Engineering.

    At the same time, she was working in the study abroad office at school, dreaming of where she could travel, the places she could go and the foods she could try while there.

    How did her blog, The Culinary Compass, come into being? I knew I wanted to work with food, but where I was wasnt the dream I was thinking of. I wanted to be hands on, developing recipes, and sharing those with friends, family, or whoever wanted to read them.

    Sam has created her own little corner of the Internet, marrying her love for travel, food science and her love for experiencing other cultures through their food.

    Perfect Appetizer For Game Day

    We love to have friends and family over to watch the big game. We may not always know what is going on with the game, but we really are more concerned with the food.

    This cheese sauce is always the hit of the party. It is usually the first item gone as everything that we are serving can be dipped in it.

    Plus with these simple ingredients and simple process I always have the ingredients on hand to make this cheese dip.

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    Homemade Pretzel Bites With Cheese Sauce

    Homemade Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce!

    Homemade Pretzel Bites with a creamy cheddar cheese dipping sauce! Popable and super addicting these homemade pretzel bites will go fast! Serve with chocolate sauce cream cheese dipping sauceHoney Mustard Sauce, Mexican Queso or Marinara are all great dipping sauces for these soft pretzel bites! I recommend storing these pretzel bites in the freezer or at room temperature versus the refrigerator to avoid becoming soggy. Homemade Pretzel Bites 4.88 from 8 votes Prep Time: 1 hour Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Servings: 60 bites Homemade Pretzel Bites with a creamy cheddar cheese dipping sauce! .

    Stovetop Or Oven Variation

    Homemade Soft Pretzels with Spicy Beer Cheese SauceCooking ...

    Maybe like the first time I made this, the wind whipped up and it just wasnt enjoyable to make outside, so instead, move inside just as easily.

    • Stovetop | Add all ingredients to cast-iron or other heavy bottomed pan and cover, heating over medium-low heat until hot, bubbly and cheeses are melted. Stir occasionally to combine.
    • Oven | Place all ingredients in cast-iron skillet or other oven safe pan or dish, cover with foil and bake at 400 for 10-15 minutes until melted and bubbly. Stir until smooth.

    TFC PRO TIP | If Golden top on cheese is desired place under broiler for a few seconds to a minute, watching closely. I like to put mine a little lower and stand and watch it, it can go from golden to burnt in seconds!

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    Variations On Beer Cheese Dip Recipe

    Our motto is Make it Yours want to make this spicer, add more cayenne, change the flavor by changing the cheese.

    • SpicyBeer Cheese Dip | Increase Cayenne pepper up to ¼ teaspoon toss in a 4 oz can of green chilis or canned jalapeños. Stir in a little Sriracha sauce at the very end.
    • Gourmet Beer Cheese Dip | Use smoked gouda or gruyere cheeses along with the cream cheese, yummy!

    Seriously The Best Pretzel Cheese Dip

    This pretzel cheese dip is such a fun and easy appetizer! All you need is to pair with your favorite soft pretzel and youre off and dipping into one of our favorite cheesy apps.

    Whether youre whipping this up for the next game day, or just serving as a fun appetizer or side for the fam, this pretzel cheese dip will not disappoint!

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    How Do You Make Cheese Sauce From Scratch

    This homemade cheese sauce is ready to enjoy in almost no time because the recipe is so simple. It uses well known ingredients that are easy to work with and prepare. You will be so glad you have this recipe in your collection!

  • Melt butter: In a medium size sauce pan over medium high heat, then add the butter and melt.
  • Whisk: Now add in the flour to the butter, then slowly whisk in the milk. Next, add in the cheese. Continue to mix until the cheese is melted.
  • Serve!
  • The Recipe Critic Pro Tip:

    Your cheese will start to get clumpy or stringy if it gets too hot. To avoid this, add the cheese end at the very end, then promptly remove it from the heat.

    The Best Beer Cheese Dip Recipe

    How to Make the Best Soft Pretzels, Pretzel Bread or Pretzel Bites with Cheese Sauce.

    It is hard to resist a good gooey, velvety cheese dip. And really, why would you even try?

    I was inspired to make this tasty duo by an appetizer we had at an amazing restaurant we went to on Coronado Island back in October. Its similar to but way better than hot beer cheese dip served at Applebees The sauce is creamy, smoky and nutty, cheesy and addictively delicious.

    What makes this the BEST beer bread dip is the simple quality ingredients included. The bechamel sauce is based on my macaroni and cheese recipe, but I added Guinness or German beer and a pinch of cayenne for the most delectable flavor.

    Pair this recipe with homemad pretzel bites or pretzels for the full German cheese dip experience. I prepare them with frozen bread dough, so theyre nearly effortless to prepare and are consistently tasty. The crispy, soft, slightly chewy and salty bites are perfect with the tangy Guinness beer and cheese dip!

    But the fun doesnt stop there! This recipe is fabulous to make as a cheesy beer fondue to enjoy with veggies, apples, or other yummy pieces of bread.

    The soft pretzel cheese dip or fondue! is ready to serve in less than 30 minutes, which is super handy when you need a quick appetizer or are planning to have company over.

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    Baking Soda Vs Lye In Baked Pretzels

    • Some pretzel recipes will have you use lye to soak the pretzels in. Giving the pretzels a wee bath in lye helps to speed up the Maillard reaction, which gives the pretzels that lovely brown colour and chew. However, lye is caustic and scary, so I used something a little less alkaline but still very effective – baked baking soda. Baking soda is moderately alkaline, but baking it produces sodium carbonate, which is slightly more alkaline, so therefore perfect for dipping your pretzels without having to worry about the safety risk of using Lye. Yay chemistry!
    • To make baked baking soda: Line a sheet pan with foil, and spread 1 cup of baking soda evenly over it. Bake at 250f / 121c for one hour, then transfer to an airtight container. This will be enough for four batches of pretzels – you use ¼ cup at a time.

    Other Types Of Cheese To Use

    If you arent a fan of Provolone or Parmesan, or you dont want to go to the store and would rather use what you already own, you have plenty of choices.

    Pretty much any cheese that would be delicious in macaroni and cheese will work for this.

    As a matter of fact, you can even use this sauce in mac and cheese if you use a bit more liquid so its not quite so thick!

    Anyway, I digress. Here are some other cheese options for you:

    • cheddar
    • goat cheese
    • blue cheese/gorgonzola
    • smoked cheese of pretty much any sort will bring a wonderful added dimension to any sauce

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    Why Do Soft Pretzels Need A Baking Soda Bath

    You know that soft & chewy texture to the outside of soft pretzels? Thats caused by a quick submerge in alkaline water, hence the need for baking soda. It alters the chemical properties of the crust just enough to make the wonderful classic soft pretzel texture we all love. Be sure to actually measure the amounts of water and baking soda as too much baking soda will cause a strange bitter flavor on all your pretzels.

    Tips For Pretzel Cheese Dip:

    Homemade Soft Pretzels with Spicy Beer Cheese Sauce
    • If the cheese sauce is too thick, add in more milk gradually until the cheese sauce is the consistency that you prefer.
    • You can add cream cheese to the mixture for a richer consistency. I would start with a tablespoon when you add the shredded cheese.
    • Add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper if you like things spicy.
    • Now if you are going to make a big batch, I highly recommend a double boiler to melt your cheese. It will go much smoother and will melt more evenly. Trust me Ive learned from experience!
    • Mustard cheese dip: Add a Tablespoon or two of mustard.
    • Crock Pot Normally we will make this dip in the double boiler, and then we like to keep it warm in a mini dipper crockpot. We just love them because it keeps the dip warm and smooth.
    • Serve with Chips These are great with pretzels, but we also love it drizzled over fritos, spicy chips, or tortilla chips.

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    Which Beers Make The Best Cheese Sauce For Pretzels

    There are a few beers that I feel make the best cheese sauce for pretzels and bread. One of them is using Guinness beer for cheese dip. With Guinness cheese dip, youll have a rich, cheesy dipping sauce every time.

    My other favorite beers are the German beers, especially the Oktoberfest beers. They are often labeled as Festbiers and Amber Marzen beers, readily available in September and October and often throughout the year. You will love the German beer cheese dip that comes from these varieties of beer.

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